Premises Liability Attorneys Clayton, MO | Personal Injury Lawyers | Halvorsen Klote

Clayton, MO

Premises Liability Attorneys Clayton, MO

Clayton, MO Personal Injury Law Firm


Call 866-382-4167 for a No-risk, No-obligation Case Review | Clayton, MO Slip and Fall Law Firm

Premises liability attorneys in Clayton, MO. Property managers in Clayton, MO have an obligation to take reasonable steps to prevent injuries on the premises. But too often, they neglect that duty, and innocent people are injured through the property owner's negligence. When that happens, you need experienced Clayton, MO premises liability attorneys to get you the full financial recovery you're entitled to. At Halvorsen Klote, our attorneys are committed to offering injury victims the same high-quality legal representation as large corporations and insurance companies. We fight for the injured in both Missouri and Illinois, and fight hard so our clients can finally get a sense of justice and recognition. Call our premises liability attorneys today 866-382-4167 or fill out our online form for a complimentary consultation.

Premises Liability Attorneys Clayton, MO | Slip and Fall Lawyers | Personal Injury Lawyer Near Clayton

What Are the Premises Liability Laws in Missouri and Illinois?

Missouri Revised Statute §537.348 and the Illinois Premises Liability Act dictate the premises liability laws in each state.

The laws in each state tend to be comparable in regards to property ownership and management: A property owner has a duty to inform people of or fix a "dangerous condition" they either knew of or should have been aware of through reasonable care. If they don't, they can be held liable for any injuries sustained as a result of the dangerous condition.

The states do differ in one very important way, related to the duty of care owed to different categories of visitors.

Types of Visitors in Clayton, MO Premises Liability Cases

The law distinguishes between three types of visitors in premises liability claims:

  1. Invitees — A business invitee is someone whose presence on the property benefits the property owner or manager. This can include people dining at a restaurant or hotel guests. Invitees can also be considered people on property the public is allowed to be on, for example bike paths or a library. Property owners are liable for an invitee's injuries caused by dangers they knew about or should have known about.
  2. Licensees — A licensee is someone who has the permission of the property owner to be on the premises, but for personal, non-business reasons. These can be social guests, but the law might apply to someone who came into a restaurant just to use the restroom. In Illinois, licensees have the same rights as invitees. In Missouri, property owners are only liable for dangers they knew about; the "should have known" doctrine doesn't apply when a licensee is injured.
  3. Trespassers — Trespassers are on the site without consent of the property owner. Therefore, they do not have the same rights as people that are allowed to be there, meaning they can't sue the property owner for a financial recovery. There are a couple of exceptions:
    1. Pursuant to Illinois Premises Liability Act and Missouri Revised Statute §537.349, a property owner can still be liable for a trespasser's injuries if the landowner acted with "willful and wanton misconduct." Meaning, if the owner created or maintained a hazardous condition because they wanted trespassers to get hurt, they can still be held liable.
    2. Under the attractive nuisance doctrine, property owners might be liable if a child gets hurt while trespassing. An "attractive nuisance" is something about the property that could make a child want to enter the property. Examples could be swimming pools, trampolines or old appliances. If a child is injured by or because of an attractive nuisance, the child and their family can make a claim for a financial recovery.

Proving Your Premises Liability Claim in Clayton, MO

With all personal injury claims, you must prove the four elements of negligence:

  1. Duty of care — Did the property owner or manager have a duty to prevent unreasonable risks of injury? The extent of a landowner's duty of care depends on what kind of visitor you are and your jurisdiction. Generally, anybody who is allowed to be on the property is owed a duty of care.
  2. Breach of duty — If they fail in their duty, that constitutes a breach of that duty. That could mean not mopping up a wet spot on the floor, or not roping off a area of the property that has a dangerous condition.
  3. Causation — Did the dangerous condition cause or contribute to your injuries? If you fell because you had inappropriate footwear for the area, you may not be able to show that the property owner was negligent. Likewise, if you didn't observe warning signs because you were looking at your phone, the property owner may argue that you were injured because you were distracted, not because of the dangerous condition.
  4. Damages — To have a valid claim, you need to show that you suffered injuries, loss and other expenses. Usually, you need to show financial harm, including lost wages and medical expenses, to make a claim for how the injury affected you physically and mentally. If you sustained a few bumps and scrapes, but had no expenses due to your injury, you likely do not have enough to make a case.

Halvorsen Klote's Clayton, MO premises liability attorneys have gotten great results for our clients in a variety of cases. If you have any doubts about the validity of your claim, or have questions about filing a personal injury lawsuit, call one of our attorneys for free today at 866-382-4167.

Premises Liability Attorneys Clayton, MO | Personal Injury Law Firm | Slip and Fall Lawyer Near Clayton

Types of Premises Liability Cases in Clayton, MO

Slip and Falls

Falling is accounts for 33% of all nonfatal preventable injuries. Slip and falls account for 12% of total falls that lead to emergency room visits, and are the primary cause of lost days from work.

Slip and falls can be caused by:

  • Wet or oily floors
  • Broken staircases, handrails or floors
  • Ice or snow
  • Loose cords
  • Uneven flooring, rugs or carpeting

Negligent Security

Inadequate Security often arises in apartment complexes, offices or hotels. The owners of these properties must guard against potential criminal activity that may reasonable occur. Examples of this could include security guards or requiring a code to enter the property. Generally, inadequate security claims are filed after someone being injured due to a violent crime. While the police and criminal courts are responsible for convicting the offender, you'll typically need to take civil legal action – with the assistance of premises liable attorneys – against a property owner to be compensated financially for your injuries and emotional anguish.

Swimming Pool and Amusement Park Accidents

Swimming pool accidents are most common in children. Drowning is the primary cause of fatalities in children between one and four years old. Public swimming pools need to have lifeguards, and have strict measures to protect children from injuring themselves.

In 2016, over 30,000 people went to the emergency room for injuries sustained at amusement parks. Negligence can include mechanical issues, operator error, collisions, malfunctioning safety belts, electrician substandard designs. Amusement park owners must ensure that the rides meet safety requirements. If you were injured because of their negligence, our Clayton, MO premises liability attorneys will hold them accountable.

Fire and Smoke Injuries

There are strict laws for smoke detectors and fire exits in public, private and business properties. Fires can cause terrible injuries and lifelong scarring, and even the inhalation of smoke can create substantial health risks. If a property owner did not adhere to local fire codes, your Clayton, MO premises liability lawyers at Halvorsen Klote can hold them liable for any injuries you sustain. Liability can occur because of a variety of factors, from blocked doors or escape routes to leaving debris around heating units.

Construction Accidents

Construction companies have an obligation to keep their construction zones safe. If you were injured in a construction site accident in a slip and fall, car accident or by falling debris because the site was not properly secured, you can hold the construction company liable for premises liability.

Whatever the nature of your specific injuries, if you were injured because a property owner or manager did not keep their property safe, call Halvorsen Klote's Clayton, MO premises liability attorneys for the full financial recovery you deserve.

How Much Is My Clayton, MO Premises Liability Claim Worth?

The damages you recover after a premises liability accident are meant to compensate you for the economic, physical and emotional hardships your injuries cause. With experienced Clayton, MO premises liability attorneys, you cans secure compensation:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages from time spent recovering
  • Lost earning potential if you can no longer make a living as you used to, or have to work less hours
  • Out-of-pocket expenses, such as hiring household services for chores you can't do while you're injured
  • Noneconomic damages like pain and suffering, mental anguish, disability, disfigurement and loss of consortium

How much money you get in your premises liability settlement depends largely on how serious your injuries are, the impact they've had on your life and the skill and experience of your Clayton, MO premises liability attorneys.

What Our Clayton, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Can Do For You

When it comes to pursuing a premises liability case, the role of a lawyer is essential. As part of our legal services, our premises liability attorneys will:

  • Investigate the accident and come up with a legal strategy that gets you the best possible results
  • Gather evidence, including maintenance logs, inspections, previous complaints filed and/or video footage
  • Interview witnesses, employees or others who may be familiar with the hazard
  • Be available whenever you need us to be and answer any question you may have
  • Handle all documentation and litigation so you can focus on your physical recovery
  • Negotiate a settlement on your behalf
  • Take the liable party to court if the other side will not be fair in negotiations

Our compassionate and experienced attorneys will be by your side every step of the way, and will not stop until you get the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Other injury cases we take on in Clayton, MO include:

Premises Liability Attorneys Clayton, MO | Slip and Fall Lawyers | Personal Injury Attorney Near Clayton

Call Halvorsen Klote's Clayton, MO Premises Liability Attorneys Today

The idea of going up against a large insurance company can be intimidating. But, if you were injured because of someone else's negligence, you are entitled to full compensation. We've dedicated our lives to helping the average person get the same expert legal advocacy as the people who injured them. If you were injured on someone else's property in Clayton, MO, call our premises liability attorneys today at 866-382-4167 or fill out our online form for a free consultation.


Joel Halvorsen

Joel Halvorsen

Attorney at Law

Joel Halvorsen and his partner Greg Klote founded the Halvorsen Klote law firm on the principle that injured people and their families should have access to the same quality legal representation as large insurance companies.


Greg Klote

Greg Klote

Attorney at Law

Greg Klote is a partner and founder of Halvorsen Klote.

Greg has successfully fought for people who were injured through no fault of their own. He became a lawyer to help make a difference in the lives of those who have been wronged and treated unfairly.